Astros sign Carlos Beltran to 1-year, $16 million deal

The Astros have agreed to terms on a 1-year, $16 million deal with Carlos Beltran, according to a report from Buster Olney of ESPN.com. The deal includes a full no-trade clause.

Beltran chose Houston over the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays after drawing some early interest from the Rangers at the outset of free agency. He is the third major offensive addition of the winter for the Astros, who also signed Josh Reddick and acquired Brian McCann in a trade with New York.

Houston was simultaneously pursuing Beltran and free agent Edwin Encarnacion in recent days, so today’s news likely means they are out of the chase for Encarnacion. The Astros are known to be pursuing pitching upgrades after signing free agent Charlie Morton, and are known to be in play for free-agent lefty Rich Hill and White Sox ace Chris Sale.

Beltran spent part of the 2004 season with the Astros after being acquired from the Royals in a deadline deal, hitting .258/.368/.559 with 23 home runs in 90 games. He has bounced around to five clubs since, and is a lifetime .281/.354/.492 hitter and 9-time All-Star in nineteen major-league seasons.

Beltran hit .295/.337/.513 with 29 homers and 93 RBI in 151 games for the Yankees and Rangers last year.